Matt is a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University. He appreciates all esports titles but primarily focuses on Fortnite and Call of Duty. Matt continuously analyzes gameplay and plays the games himself to better understand in-game decisions by the best players in the world.

Fortnite’s latest patch, v10.20, is already catching heat from the community for the changes Epic implemented into the game. As if the B.R.U.T.Es from Season X weren’t enough, Epic Games is decreasing the building abilities of all players. In general, the Turbo Build is no longer as fast as it once was after the player deploys their first build. This essentially means that “cranking 90s” or turning 90 degrees in the middle of the building process is no longer an option.

Now, turbo build placements will take an entire ten seconds longer than before. Most players have taken to the internet to decry this change, arguing that building skill is truly the separating factor between casual players and competitive players.

The rise to infamy for players like Turner “Tfue” Tenney, Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, Dennis “Cloakzy” Lepore and many others came about as they adapted to Fortnite’s constant changes. These players will now need to change their core playstyle, as highly skilled and professional players could always rely on their building prowess to take home the win. While it’s still early in the patch’s lifecycle, many players are likely going to have to reshape how they approach competitive Fortnite. As expected, the backlash from Fortnite loyalists the world over was almost instant.

The Professional Fortnite Reaction

One of the best young professional players in the world, Clix, demonstrated how holding walls is no longer as easy as it was pre-patch. Competitive players will have to adapt accordingly, and it will not be easy by any stretch. The whole concept of boxing up to heal is effectively in jeopardy of becoming irrelevant. If an opposing player is pushing someone who is in a box, the boxed-up player may have to engage even if they have low health due to the turbo build changes. Interestingly, it is also worth noting that online Fortnite players with higher ping will have a tough time trying to retake walls or hold walls in any instance.

A Future Filled with Questions

There’s really no telling what the immediate future looks like for competitive Fortnite, especially on the heels of this change. It seems as though the community is always doom and gloom when it comes to changes to the core mechanics of the game. It is difficult to disagree at this point, considering the fact that the insane building prowess is what makes professionals worth watching on stream. The Fortnite Champion Series is in full swing, and several of the top trio teams in the world have qualified. Competitors like Kyle “Mongraal” Jackson, Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, Williams “Zayt” Aubin and many more will compete in the Grand Finals.

It will be a “wait and see” approach from these pros on how much Fortnite will change with the recent patch. Thankfully, the mechs are no longer as much of an issue, which has seen a sigh of relief from the community. The re-enabling of the Junk Rift, however, is worth considering going forward as it may cause issues as it did before. Last, but not least, is the building mechanic change, which could be much more significant than it seems.

Patch v10.20 also introduced a new throwable item called the Shield Bubble. This item bears a striking resemblance to the Bubble Shield from Halo 3, which provided protection from outside damage. Fortnite’s version allows players inside the shield to inflict damage to those outside of it. Keep an eye on the professional Trio scrims to see how all of these changes affect high-level play.

Stay tuned to ESTNN as we provide extensive coverage to the Fortnite Champion Series and the professional player reaction to these recent changes.